McDonald's Aims for Sustainable Coffee

In a move to satisfy consumer concerns about food origins, McDonald’s Corp. plans to purchase all its coffee from sustainable sources by 2020, Reuters News Service reports. The restaurant company is partnering with Conservation International on the initiative.

According to the report, McDonald’s bought 37% of its coffee from certified sustainable sources last year.

The move is in line with the the restaurant company’s efforts to upgrade ingredients across the menu. Including the use of cage-free eggs and eliminating artificial preservatives from its chick nuggets. McDonald’s currently buys arabica coffee from Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Peru and Nicaragua. Some robusta beans are purchased for overseas stores depending on local tastes.

Conservation International works to improve soil and water conservation and ensure fair treatment and pay for farmers. The organization assisted Starbucks in the development of that company’s sustainable sourcing practices, the Reuters report stated. Starbucks reports that about 99% of its coffee was ethically sourced last year.